Covid in Scotland: Vaccines 'exceeding expectations' says health secretary
- Published
The Scottish government has said its Covid vaccination programme is "exceeding" expectations
New figures revealed 93% of over-80s had received a vaccination by its target date of Friday.
In total 786,427 people had received the first dose.
A further 48 deaths were registered of people who tested positive in the last 28 days. Daily data also confirmed 895 new cases, 5.9% of those tested.
The Scottish Government said at 93% coverage it had met it's target to vaccinate the over 80s by the 5 February.
The other 7% percent included those unable or unwilling to receive the jab.
Health Secretary Jeane Freeman said the programme was "delivering ahead of our expectations".
She added: "Our aim is to vaccinate as many people as possible with both their first and second doses.
"The vaccine deployment plan was predicated on an uptake of at least 80% in each cohort - so far we are significantly exceeding that for care home residents and staff, frontline healthcare staff, and over 80-year-olds in the community.
On Friday the Deputy First Minister said Scotland's vaccination programme was "on track" to meet its targets.
By Saturday morning, those had received their first dose of vaccine included:
99% of residents in older care homes
93% of all care home residents
56% of 75 to 79-year-olds in the community
20% of 70 to 74-year-olds.
Figures also showed that 10,332 had received a second dose.
Prof Jason Leitch said Scotland is starting to see the "green shoots of recovery" in its fight against the virus
Meanwhile, 117 people are in intensive care with recently confirmed Covid - down six since Friday.
The total number in hospital fell by 65 to 1,729.
Of the new cases, 253 were recorded by NHS Greater Glasgow & Clyde, 158 by NHS Lanarkshire and 133 by NHS Lothian.
Scotland's national clinical director said the country still has a long way to go but is starting to see the "green shoots of recovery" in its fight against the virus.
Prof Jason Leitch told BBC Scotland: "The vaccination programme is moving at a great pace and, globally, compared to much of the rest of the world, it is moving very quickly indeed."
'Great anxiety'
Donald Cameron, of the Scottish Conservatives, welcomed the acceleration in the programme but said some aspects of the scheme have become a "classic postcode lottery".
The Highlands and Islands MSP added: "What the SNP government must do is focus their efforts and concentrate on getting this vaccine to the over-70s by the end of next week, which is what their target is.
"We will continue to push them to ensure that target is reached because, ultimately, it causes great anxiety for people who are expecting their vaccine and have yet to hear when it will happen and where it will happen."
- Published5 February 2021
- Published5 February 2021
